Chapter 373

In another private room at the club, Winona and Layla, after indulging their desires, felt much more at ease. They were back to being as close as sisters, sipping their wine.

Winona sipped her wine, straightened her posture, and said, “So When I tried reaching out, you were always busy. Then you stopped answering entirely. Now suddenly, here you are?”

Layla laughed, her expression exaggerated with mock sincerity. Oh, Winona, it wasn’t me. My family didn’t want me reaching out. Forgive me this once, will you?”

Winona knew perfectly well that Layla’s silence had been her own choice, but there was no point making an issue out of it now.

Ever since Yvette was revealed to be Cyanbird and Winona was exposed as not being Zachary’s biological daughter, everyone distanced themselves from Winona. Layla’s contact was a lifeline, and no matter the reason, she needed the semblance of a friend–even a superficial one.

Feigning aloofness, Winona lifted her chin. “Fine. I’ll let it slide this time. But if it happens again, we’re done. Got it?”

Layla concealed her disdain beneath a bright, fake smile. The two kept their facades on, chatting idly, their words as empty as the glasses they held.

Finally Layla brought up her real reason for meeting. “Winona, have you heard? Yvette’s back in Seacrity.”

At the mere mention of Yvette, Winona’s face darkened. She smashed her wine glass to the floor, watching it shatter, red wine pooling like blood.

“I know. That witch returned to town, and people went crazy over her! All she did was win some petty art competition–does she really deserve this attention? She must’ve cheated; no way someone like her won fair and square.”

Layla flinched at Winona’s crazed expression. Once the city’s premier socialite, Winona now looked unhinged, far from her former self.

Besides, it was impossible to cheat in an international competition like that. Not wanting to risk Winona’s temper affecting her unborn child, Layla soothed her friend.

“Winona, don’t get so worked up. Yvette’s fifteen minutes of fame won’t last. The higher she rises, the harder she’ll fall. Just wait–it’ll all come crashing down for her soon enough. Just make sure you don’t do anything to disturb the baby.”

When Winona heard Layla mention the baby, she calmed down She sat back on the couch and looked at Layla, wondering why she suddenly brought up Yvette.

Layla, feeling a bit guilty, avoided Winona’s gaze. Winona asked, “Why bring her up out of the blue? Have you seen her? What happened?”

Layla shifted uneasily, hiding the truth as she fabricated a story. went to see Mr. Chambers, hoping to appeal on your behalf.

Surely, he’d show some compassion after all these years as father and daughter.”

Winona paused, a glimmer of hope crossing her face. Could the affection Zachary had shown really have been an act? She pressed Layla, “You pleaded for me? What did he say?”

Hesitantly, Layla spun her tale further. “Mr. Chambers said it’s over between you two. He even said not to contact him and that Yvette is his only daughter now.”

In truth, Layla hadn’t spoken with Zachary about Winona at all; she’d concocted the whole thing. She knew Winona and Zachary would never reconcile, and no one would ever discover her lie.

Yvette’s arrogance needed a dose of comeuppance, and who better to deliver it than Winona?

As Layla expected, Winona’s face twisted with rage. “Cut me off, will he? I’ll make him pay for that.”

Feigning concern, Layla poured fuel on the fire. “Winona, Mr. Chambers is so invested in Yvette now–he’s practically showered her with everything. He even remodeled the second floor of the Chambers residence into her personal space, filled with antiques worth millions.

“And he even commissioned a custom studio for her, something he never did for you, even when you were into painting. Isn’t it just unfair?”

Winona clenched her fists, body trembling, a dark glint in her eyes. She sneered, her expression feral. “Tell me, if Yvette were...

gone, do you think Zachary would still play favorites?”

Layla froze. She’d only wanted Yvette’s reputation tarnished, but Winona’s ruthlessness exceeded her expectations. She never dared to think about anything as serious as death.

Layla bit her lip, a hint of fear in her voice. “Winona, that’s dangerous. With her popularity, any harm that comes to her would bring the police down on us. It’s too risky.”

Winona smirked, looking straight at Layla. “You must’ve crossed Yvette somehow, or you wouldn’t be here talking about this, would you?

Caught off guard, Layla floundered, but Winona continued her manipulation. “Listen, Yvette holds grudges. If you’ve wronged her, she might retaliate. Don’t you think we’d be better off making the first move?”

Layla hesitated, Winona’s words seeping into her thoughts. After a tense moment, she nodded, her voice shaking but resolute.

“Winona, what do you want to do?”

Sensing Layla’s opening, Winona touched her stomach, confidence gleaming in her eyes.

“Yvette’s arrogant, full of herself with no real talent beyond painting and playing some worthless game. We can pay someone from the underworld. With enough money, plenty of people will take the job. Once Yvette is in our hands, she’s ours to toy with.”

Layla’s face lit up with twisted excitement at the image of Yvette humiliated at their mercy. Sensing Layla’s wavering resolve, Winona leaned in, whispering, “Layla, don’t you want to ruin Yvette’s face?

“With her gone, nothing will stand between you and becoming Seacrity’s top socialite. She’s just a roadblock. Only by removing her can we have the life we deserve.”

As though hypnotized, Layla nodded, her eyes blazing. “You’re right, Winona. Only without Yvette can we finally live our best lives. Tell me what to do. I’m with you.”

Winona nodded in satisfaction, leaning close to murmur her plan as Layla’s eyes brightened, her mind already savoring the thought of Yvette’s downfall.